13Q THE SUGAR INDUSTRY. 



Sugar Growers' Society. Then you will be leagued with similar efforts all over the 

 country, provided the society is thus supported, and in many ways can benefit by 

 such connection. 



As to financiering a sugar factory enterprise after it is demonstrated that your 

 community can furnish the necessary beets, there are numerous methods. On gen- 

 eral principles, we do not favor paying a bonus outright to secure an industry, 

 although this is a very common method. If outside capital is necessary, it can usu- 

 ally be attracted by the offer of the community that wants a factory to furnish a part 

 of the money. Suppose, for instance, it is desired to erect a plant which, with working 

 capital and all appurtenances, requires an investment of $500,000. Instead of offering a 

 bonus of lands or money, let the community offer to take one-fifth or two-fifths or 

 even one-half of the capital stock, provided outsiders will furnish the other half and 

 the expert management the enterprise requires to be successful. Let it be constantly 

 borne in mind that such management is quite as essential as capital. And if the 

 community supplies some of the money, the enterprise will be assured of a more 

 direct interest and heartier support than if it was wholly owned by outsiders. Farm- 

 ers might take an interest in the factory by agreeing to pay for their shares partly in 

 cash and partly in beets. Except in the very newest regions, where money is 

 extremely scarce, the people in almost any county can raise a goodly sum of money 

 for an investment of this kind if they really mean business. Of course the rights and 

 interests of all the parties to such a trade should be properly seen to, but as a rule 

 we believe in this policy of home talent and home money building up home indus- 

 tries. It fosters a spirit of thrift and enterprise that is often lacking in communities 

 that are supported by industries operated wholly by foreign capital. 



If, however, the people of the locality will not put up any money on any of these 

 plans, let them not find fault that they have to depend wholly upon outside capital. 

 Judging from some of the criticism we have heard of the Oxnards' investment in 

 beet-sugar factories in Nebraska, some of the people of that state at least consider it 

 almost a crime for an outsider to invest his money in new industrial enterprises! We 

 can but believe, however, that such critics constitute only a small fraction of the 

 population of that great state. Such critics should understand that other states are 

 only too anxious to attract outside capital, and many towns seem to be ready to make 

 even extravagant efforts to obtain it. But we also feel that some of such enterpris- 

 ing communities would accomplish more in the long run by putting more of their 

 own money into these new industries. 



WHERE AND HOW TO START A SUGAR FACTORY. 



In starting a sugar factory, it is necessary to erect the plant where there is rail- 

 road competition. Transportation of beets and factory supplies is a most important 

 consideration, requiring the lowest possible rates. The sugar itself is also a bulky 

 product, the distribution of which among local and more distant markets must be 

 fairly considered. 



, The nearer the factory can be to the beets, the better. Unlike other manufactur- 

 ing enterprises, it should be in the beet fields and not close to a town. If it is possi 

 ble, the sugar factory should be located in the very center of farming districts, where 



